Evening Brief: Hamas Seeks Release of Top Palestinian Prisoners, Putin Visits Tajikistan for Regional Summit

Evening rundown for Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

Second Week of Government Shutdown Sees Deepening Standoff Over Health Care Subsidies

The federal government shutdown entered its second week on Tuesday with Congress deadlocked and no clear path forward.

The House remains closed, the Senate continues to reject funding proposals, and President Donald Trump is threatening to fire federal workers and deny back pay.

The impasse centers on Democratic demands to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, which are set to expire at year’s end and could trigger major health insurance rate hikes. Republicans argue the issue can wait until after the government reopens, while Democrats insist on resolving it now.

Behind the scenes, a small bipartisan group of senators is exploring possible compromises, but trust remains low.

Trump has sent mixed signals, at times suggesting he is open to negotiation. Meanwhile, federal workers face missed paychecks, and repeated Senate votes to advance a House-passed funding bill have failed.

As the federal shutdown enters its second week, the consequences are starting to feel real https://t.co/HnDYz3Yc9p

— Bloomberg (@business) October 8, 2025

Both parties are framing the standoff as a defining political battle ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Trump Calls for Jailing of Illinois Governor and Chicago Mayor Amid Clash Over National Guard Deployment

President Donald Trump said Wednesday that Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should be jailed for opposing his deployment of National Guard troops to the city as part of his immigration and crime crackdown.

The remarks, made on Truth Social, mark another instance of Trump calling for prosecution of political opponents. Both Democratic officials condemned the comments, with Johnson accusing Trump of targeting Black leaders and Pritzker warning of rising authoritarianism.

The White House provided no evidence of criminal wrongdoing but blamed the officials for recent gun violence in Chicago.

Breaking: President Trump suggested Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson should be imprisoned for failing to protect ICE officers https://t.co/2imGc5Gfji

— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) October 8, 2025

National Guard troops from Texas remain stationed outside the city despite a pending lawsuit by Illinois and Chicago to block the deployment.

Trump has long criticized Chicago’s crime rates and immigration policies, while local leaders argue that federal intervention is unconstitutional and politically motivated ahead of the 2026 elections.

Man Charged With Starting Fire That Became Los Angeles’ Most Destructive Blaze

Federal authorities charged 29-year-old Jonathan Rinderknecht with starting a fire that later reignited and became the deadliest and most destructive blaze in Los Angeles history, killing 12 people and destroying more than 6,000 homes in the Pacific Palisades.

Prosecutors said Rinderknecht lit the initial fire on New Year’s Day, which smoldered underground before flaring up on January 7 amid strong winds. He allegedly returned to the scene to watch the fire and later lied to investigators about his whereabouts.

Rinderknecht was arrested in Florida and is set to appear in court Wednesday.

NOW – Authorities announce Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, arrested and charged for allegedly starting Palisades Fire. pic.twitter.com/gDhMbVwLa1

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) October 8, 2025

Investigators ruled out accidental causes, including fireworks and power lines, and said the fire was deliberately set, likely using a lighter.

The tragedy has drawn scrutiny over the county’s slow evacuation alerts and outdated emergency communication policies.

US Joins Deep-Stage Gaza Peace Talks as Israel and Hamas Weigh Trump’s Ceasefire Plan

Senior US officials, including President Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner, joined the third day of peace talks between Israel and Hamas in Egypt on Wednesday, signaling a push to finalize details of Trump’s plan to end the two-year Gaza war.

The talks in Sharm el-Sheikh focus on a permanent ceasefire, the release of 48 remaining hostages, Hamas’ disarmament, and the creation of an international administration to govern Gaza after the war.

Hamas is demanding firm guarantees that Israel will not resume military operations after hostages are released, while Israel remains “cautiously optimistic.”

Officials from Israel, Qatar, and the United States are all feeling “optimistic” that a deal to end the ongoing war in Gaza could be reached sometime this week, as negotiations, attended by White House Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner,… pic.twitter.com/2EgGoNEoTp

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 8, 2025

Qatar’s prime minister, Egypt’s president, and other regional mediators are also participating, with European and Arab ministers set to meet Thursday in Paris to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction and security.

The conflict has killed more than 67,000 Palestinians and left Gaza in ruins since Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and triggered Israel’s ongoing offensive.

Hamas Seeks Release of Top Palestinian Prisoners, Including Marwan Barghouti, in Ceasefire Talks

As ceasefire and hostage negotiations advance, Hamas is expected to demand Israel release several high-profile Palestinian prisoners, including Marwan Barghouti — the jailed Fatah leader widely regarded as the most popular and unifying figure in Palestinian politics.

Israel has long refused to free Barghouti and other prominent inmates, whom it accuses of orchestrating deadly attacks, but faces growing pressure to end the Gaza war and secure the release of 48 remaining hostages.

The list reportedly includes Barghouti; Hamas bombmaker Abdullah Barghouti, serving 67 life terms; Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine leader Ahmed Saadat; senior Hamas militant Hassan Salama; and commander Abbas al-Sayyed.

Israel fears repeating past mistakes, noting that Yahya Sinwar — freed in a 2011 prisoner exchange — later helped plan Hamas’ 2023 attack.

The lists of terrorists’ names submitted by Hamas to the mediators include Marwan Barghouti and Ahmed Saadat pic.twitter.com/hXZgP3BkLr

— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) October 8, 2025

Palestinian leaders view the prisoners as political detainees and symbols of resistance, while Israeli officials consider them convicted terrorists.

Burkina Faso Junta Arrests Eight Aid Workers on Spying Charges

Burkina Faso’s military government said it has arrested eight employees of the Netherlands-based International NGO Safety Organisation (INSO) on charges of espionage, accusing them of sharing sensitive military information with foreign powers.

The detainees include two French nationals, a Czech citizen, a Malian, and four Burkinabe staff members, authorities said Tuesday.

The junta alleges that INSO gathered data on troop deployments, convoy routes, and operational zones.

INSO denied the accusations, saying its work focuses on collecting publicly available information to improve humanitarian safety and that it is cooperating with the investigation to secure its staff’s release.

Burkina Faso’s military government says it has arrested eight members of a Dutch-based humanitarian organisation, accusing them of “spying and treason”.
The organisation said they were detained some time ago but it was not previously reported. https://t.co/psHLAeFThY pic.twitter.com/nf8NGzYWqc

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) October 8, 2025

The arrests come amid rising insecurity and growing criticism of the junta, which seized power in 2022 promising stability but has since faced escalating insurgent attacks and accusations of repressing dissent.

Manchester Synagogue Attacker Pledged Allegiance to Islamic State, Police Say

The man who killed two people in last week’s attack on a synagogue in Manchester pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group during the assault, British police said Wednesday.

The attacker, 35-year-old Jihad Al-Shamie, rammed his car into pedestrians, stabbed victims, and tried to storm the Heaton Park Congregation Synagogue on October 2 before being shot dead by police.

Two congregants, Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed, with police confirming Daulby was accidentally shot by an officer while helping barricade the building. Three others remain hospitalized.

Investigators said Al-Shamie called emergency services during the attack to declare his allegiance to ISIS and is believed to have acted under extremist influence. He had been on bail for an unrelated rape allegation but was not previously flagged for radical activity.

BREAKING: The Manchester synagogue terrorist made a call to police during the attack where he pledged allegiance to the so-called Islamic State, police say.https://t.co/WZ7R5vODtR

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/vyfzHRhnBK

— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 8, 2025

Police have arrested six people in the Manchester area on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses as the investigation continues.

The attack has shaken Britain’s Jewish community amid rising antisemitic incidents linked to the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

EU Warns of Escalating Russian ‘Gray Zone’ Threat, Plans Anti-Drone Defense Strategy

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned Wednesday that Russia is conducting a “targeted gray zone campaign” against Europe involving airspace violations, sabotage, and cyberattacks, and said such aggression will intensify if not countered.

Speaking to European Union lawmakers in Strasbourg, she cited recent incidents including Russian fighter jets breaching Estonian airspace and drones flying over military and infrastructure sites in several EU countries.

Von der Leyen said the bloc must act decisively and will propose a new defense roadmap by 2030, including a continent-wide “drone wall” system for detecting and neutralizing aerial threats.

The plan also aims to boost domestic defense production, requiring that at least 65 percent of EU-funded projects be based in Europe.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says Europe must ramp up its defenses to deter Russia’s hybrid warfare, after a catalogue of air incursions, cyber-attacks and damage to undersea cables. pic.twitter.com/n9yU0mtTS3

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) October 8, 2025

Her remarks follow growing concern among EU leaders, with French President Emmanuel Macron urging stronger measures such as shooting down drones and intercepting ships aiding Russia’s war economy.

Russian Strike Heavily Damages Ukrainian Power Plant as Energy War Escalates Ahead of Winter

A Russian overnight attack severely damaged one of Ukraine’s thermal power plants, injuring two workers, Ukraine’s largest energy operator DTEK said Wednesday.

Authorities withheld the plant’s location for security reasons as repair crews worked to restore operations.

The strike is part of Moscow’s renewed campaign to cripple Ukraine’s power grid before winter, aiming to sap civilian morale and disrupt industry.

Overnight, Russian drones once again targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure. A strike on a thermal power plant injured staff and caused serious damage to the station’s equipment, according to DTEK. pic.twitter.com/S7lrBwm2D3

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) October 8, 2025

Ukraine’s Air Force reported intercepting or jamming 154 of 183 Russian drones launched overnight, while Russian forces also targeted energy facilities in the Chernihiv, Kherson, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.

In response, Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s Belgorod region killed three people and damaged infrastructure.

Local officials in Ukraine’s hard-hit Sumy region have set up warming tents and outdoor kitchens to assist residents as temperatures drop.

Putin Visits Tajikistan for Regional Summit as ICC Arrest Warrant Shadows Trip

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Tajikistan on Wednesday for a three-day state visit focused on strengthening trade and regional ties with Central Asian nations amid Western sanctions over the war in Ukraine.

Putin will meet with Tajik President Emomali Rakhmon before attending a Russia-Central Asia summit with leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, followed by a broader Commonwealth of Independent States meeting that includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Belarus.

Moment Putin WELCOMED in Tajikistan

A hug from Prez Rahmon who’s waiting at bottom of stairs https://t.co/ShJf47FEq6 pic.twitter.com/0tsqzRLymK

— RT (@RT_com) October 8, 2025

Despite Tajikistan’s membership in the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for Putin in 2023 over alleged war crimes, he faces no risk of detention due to the country’s close political and military alignment with Moscow.

Human Rights Watch criticized Tajikistan for hosting Putin, calling on it to enforce the ICC warrant.

The visit underscores Russia’s growing reliance on post-Soviet allies as sanctions continue to isolate it from Western markets and institutions.

Sources: News Agencies